Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-12

But the historical interest of the locality
has been pre-engaged, riveted, in fact, to one
| spot five miles before Biloxi is reached
where the brakeman in his stridulous tones
has announced "Beauvoir Station" the stop
| ping place for Beauvoir house, the home of
Jefferson Davis, the chapelle exriatore of the
southern bourbon, the modern rock Of Pro
metheus to the northern stalwart. There is
nothing but the station house and the pine
forest to be seen at the station There is no
population, black or white, and Beauvoir
house lies 600 yards through the pines facing
the gulf, out of sight.
had taken the precaution to ask Mr.. j. U
Payne, Mr.. Davis friend and business agent
in New Orleans, if he would lie at home Oh
that day l went out to visit Beauvair but
notwithstanding this was informed, OH in
quiring the way to the house, that not a soul
was at home. Mr.. Davis had left an hour or
two before my arrival to attend the wedding
in New Orleans Of his wife's niece. had
passed him ON the way. Mrs. Davis was
away on the same business, and Miss VaIina,
the daughter, was visiting friends in Chatta
nooga.
My informant proved to be the man who
was intrusted with the premises in Mr.. Davis
absence, and he politely agreed to show m.
the house. / would be able to see Mr.. Davis
in New Orleans
So we walked through the pines along
roadway ankle deep in white sand. aroun,
the angle of a scuppernong vineyard of sew
eral acres, the only cultivated spot on the es
tate of 800 acres of sand and long leaf pine
The road leads straight on to the beach OF
the gulf between Beauvoir and smaller house
ON the right, owned by Mr. Davis sister,
both houses facing the water. The approach
is from the rear, and entrance to the large
lt.I Of paa vol. =
side. The yard is broad stretch in front OF
and on either side of the house to the beach
densely shaded and bare of grass or other liv-
IL vegetable carpeting, the white sand of the
sell showing up between the dristed winrows
OF dead leaves and decaying twiss scattered
under the stunted trees like black worms.
Live oaks are the prevailing trees, small
to be sure, and unlike their grand b,cthre,,
of the river Alluvium, over in Louisiana
but shapely, gray boards of moss droopin.
from their branches, their round, umbrella
like tops and thick foliage presenting an i'm
penetrable shield against southern SUM- theil
short but clean trunks outlining pleasant
vistas through the broad stretch of yard and
out to the blue waters of the gulf. There is
nothing scrawny, gnarled or gaunt in theS.
shapely little trees, as in the black jack ano
scrubby denominations SO familiar in the land
scape of southern ''po'r lands, and they make
pretty grove; but, besides the live oaks
there are cedars, water oaks, with tIleii
lighter green leaves, ruagnolias, AMI even
hickory, tree rarely found in such impov-
erished soil A large number of orange trees
were killed in the severe weather of last win
ter, and some of their denuded stunps are
still standing. As the visitor passes through
the yard he is more than apt to strike his toe
against an incipient growth of cactus, which
seems TO be fighting for existence in the lar.
rem sand.
A few merino sheep are roaming tbrous li the
yard, keeping themselves for the most part a.
near the implanted fence which separates the
grounds from the beach as possible, for, curl
ously enough, the fresh breeze which is con
tinually blowing from the water hardly stirs
the lower limbs of the trees in the rear of the
yard, though still perceptible at little dis
lance above the earth. At the station house,
the other side of the pines, no breeze is felt
whatever, and the heat during the summer is
intense.
The house itself, placed in the rear center of
the yard, Is elevated some eight feet above
the ground on brick pillars inclosed with lat
tice work. 1t is one story above these, broad
and fat, with slab roof, white painted weather
boards and green blinds, a broad vcranda
or gallery, as they are called Ia. ne. e- '-ndip,